WORLD INTERFAITH HARMONY WEEK PROPOSAL AT UN

September 26, 2010

7/ FM participates in OIC foreign ministers meeting

2010.09.24

/7/
New York, Sept. 24(Petra) — Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh on Friday
took part in the Annual Coordination Meeting of Ministers of Foreign
Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), which was held
on the sidelines of the 65th session of the UN General Assembly in New
York.

In remarks at the meeting, Judeh stressed His Majesty King
Abdullah’s initiative concerning a Jordanian draft resolution for an
annual ”World Interfaith Harmony Week” to help people express the
teachings of their own faith about tolerance, respect for the other, and
peace.

He also called on OIC foreign ministers to support the Jordanian
proposal, stressing the need to promote cooperation to face joint
challenges, maximize benefits and serve joint interests.

On the Arab- Israeli conflict, Judeh affirmed the importance of
efforts exerted to realize regional peace on the basis of the two- state
solution to establish an independent Palestinian state on 1967 borders
with East Jerusalem as its capital and within a comprehensive regional
context in accordance with credible terms of reference, namely the Arab
peace initiative.

The minister also stressed the need to stop all Israeli unilateral
actions in the occupied West Bank including East Jerusalem, such as
settlements , the demolition of Palestinian homes and displacement of
Palestinians, and excavations under and around Islamic and Christian
holy sites.

His Majesty King Abdullah addresses the Plenary Session of the 65th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on Thursday (Photo by Yousef Allan)

Following is the full text of His Majesty King Abdullah’s address at the Plenary Session of the 65th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York on Thursday:

Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim

President Deiss,

Mr Secretary General,

Your Excellencies,

More than ever before, our world is confronting multiple global crisesة which cannot be effectively addressed, without a coordinated, multilateral action. No country can face these crises and provide for its future in isolation. The threats are globalة and so are the solutions. A strong, central role for the United Nations is essential.

It is also essential to resist forces of division that spread misunderstanding and mistrustة especially among peoples of different religions. The fact is, humanity everywhere is bound together, not only by mutual interests, but by shared commandmentsة to love God and neighbour; to love the good and neighbour. This week, my delegation, with the support of our friends on every continent, will introduce a draft resolution for an annual World Interfaith Harmony Week. What we are proposing is a special week, du?ing which the world’s people, in their own places of worship, could express the teachings of their own faith about tolerance, respect for the other and peace. I hope this resolution will have your support.

My friends,

Another critical area for UN leadership is peaceة and one peace hangs in the balance today. With direct negotiations between the Palestinians and the Israelis, a door opens to a final, two-state settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflictة and the establishment of an independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state, living side by side with Israel, will pave the way for a comprehensive regional peace.

An end to this conflict is long overdue. No regional crisis has had a longer or broader impact on global security and stability. No such crisis has been longer on the UN agendaة or has frustrated peacemakers more. Every resource spent in this conflict is a resource lost for investing in progress and prosperity. Every day spent is a day lost to forces of violence and extremism that threaten all of us in the region and beyond.

People are wary of disappointmentة and spoilers are doing everything they can to make us fail. We cannot underestimate the importance of successة or the painful cost of failure. All of us need to support swift action, hard choices and real results. The alternative is more sufferingة deeper frustrationsة with spreading, more vicious warfare. Such a catastrophic scenario will continue to drag in the whole world, threatening security and stability far beyond the borders of the Middle East.

To prevent that, the talks must be approached with commitment, sincerity and courage. There should be no provocative or unilateral actions that can derail the negotiations. Instead, the parties must work hard to produce results, and quickly. That means addressing all final-status issues, with a view to ending the occupation and reaching the two-state solutionة the only solution that can workة as soon as possible. The status quo is simply unacceptableة Enough injustice, enough bloodshed.

Jordan and the rest of the Arab and Muslim worlds are committed. In the Arab Peace Initiative, we reach out to Israel with an unprecedented opportunity for a comprehensive settlementة A settlement that will enable Israel to have normal relations with 57 Arab and Muslim states, one-third of the United Nations.

Now, we reach out to you, our fellow members of this United Nations. All stand to lose if the talks fail; all gain when peace is achieved. Our global and collective influence is key. Together, we must tip the balance towards peace.

AMMAN (JT) – His Majesty King Abdullah on Thursday reiterated that the two-state settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the establishment of an independent, viable and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with Israel is the only way for a comprehensive regional peace.

In remarks at the Plenary Session of the 65th General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, where he headed the Jordanian delegation, His Majesty said that the alternative to such a comprehensive peace is “more suffering, deeper frustrations” and the spread of more vicious warfare.

“Such a catastrophic scenario will continue to drag in the whole world, threatening security and stability far beyond the borders of the Middle East,” he told the world gathering (see full text of speech).

In the speech, the King pointed to a resolution Jordan proposed to the General Assembly related to the introduction of an annual World Interfaith Harmony Week.

“What we are proposing is a special week, during which the world’s people, in their own places of worship, could express the teachings of their own faith about tolerance, respect for the other, and peace. I hope this resolution will have your support,” he said.

Also on Thursday, the King discussed with Lebanese President Michel Sleiman the latest regional developments, the Royal Court said in a statement.

The two leaders addressed efforts exerted to achieve Middle East peace, regain Arabs’ rights and ensure the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

King Abdullah and the Lebanese president discussed several regional and international issues and ways to deal with them in a manner that serves both countries’ interests as well as joint Arab causes.

Stressing the strong Jordanian-Lebanese relations, the two leaders also examined steps needed to activate economic cooperation.

King Abdullah stressed the Kingdom’s support for Lebanon’s efforts to foster its security and stability, the statement added.

The Monarch also met with Canada’s Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Discussions focused on the latest developments regarding efforts exerted to achieve progress in the Palestinian-Israeli direct negotiations, which were launched in Washington at the beginning of this month.

The King and Harper also reviewed Jordanian-Canadian relations and means to enhance them, especially in the fields of economy and investment.

Earlier on Thursday, the King attended an official lunch banquet hosted by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, in honour of different heads of states and delegations participating in the UN General Assembly meetings.

On the sidelines of the UN meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Judeh on Thursday underscored the importance of creating appropriate conditions for the success of the ongoing direct Palestinian-Israeli negotiations.

During a meeting in New York with his German counterpart, Guido Westerwelle, Judeh briefed Westerwelle on the intensive political activity King Abdullah is undertaking to achieve peace in the region.

He highlighted the need to intensify international efforts to achieve the needed progress as soon as possible to end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution and according to the adopted terms of reference, guaranteeing the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital, to live side by side with Israel in peace and security.

Judeh said Germany plays an important role in the European Union and the international community in pushing peace efforts forward to end the conflict in the region, particularly the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which he reiterated is an issue of international concern.

Westerwelle stressed his country’s determination to push efforts forward to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East based on the two-state solution and according to the adopted terms of reference.

Discussions also covered means to enhance bilateral relations in all fields.